Low-code platforms are everywhere right now. Some promise you can build apps in a weekend. Others brag about doing it for less than the cost of a SaaS subscription.

But here’s the truth: most “cheap” low-code tools? They’re expensive in all the wrong ways.

I’ve seen too many teams fall into the trap—myself included. You build fast, get something working, show it off… and then slowly start realizing what you’re in for:

• Integrations that can’t scale
• Logic you have to rewrite constantly
• A platform that locks you in tighter than an old-school CMS

Let’s break down where it all goes sideways—and how we built Lonti to avoid it completely.

🚧 Cheap Now, Expensive Later

A lot of platforms are built for demos. Not for real-world complexity. They help you build a quick UI or connect to a simple API, but the moment you need:

• Conditional workflows
• Integration with legacy systems
• Custom business logic or data structures

...you’re hacking, duct-taping, or worse—starting over outside the platform.

That “$20/month” tool? Suddenly you’re paying double to maintain workarounds.

🔒 The Lock-In Trap

Most of the “easy” low-code platforms do one thing really well: keep you inside their ecosystem.

Try exporting workflows to Git.

Try editing in your IDE.

Try integrating with your CI/CD pipeline.

Yeah… good luck.

With platforms like these, you’re not just locked in—you’re held hostage.

🧰 What We Did Differently with Lonti

We built Lonti because we were tired of watching real developers hit real walls.

Instead of simplifying everything, we focused on giving you:

• Visual tools where they help
• Full-code access when you need it
• API-first architecture so you can integrate anything
• Git, versioning, reuse, and scale—baked in from day one

🔹 Martini handles API automation and integration

🔹 Bellini builds frontend apps with both drag-and-drop + JS/CSS when needed

🔹 Negroni gives you structured data modeling + auto-generated APIs

Low code, yes. But with no limits.

🧠 Real ROI = Real Freedom

The biggest hidden cost in “cheap” low-code isn’t money.

It’s flexibility.

Every shortcut that saves time today? It costs you twice as much when the business changes and you can’t adapt.

With Lonti, we’ve had teams go from “internal MVP” to full-on enterprise rollout—without rewriting the stack.

That’s the kind of ROI that actually matters.

TL;DR

• Not all low-code is built to scale
• Cheap tools often come with hidden costs: lock-in, rework, and dev time
• Lonti is low code made for devs—API-first, extensible, and built for real apps
• You don’t have to trade speed for power anymore

Original source: The False Economy of “Cheap” Low Code Platforms